H&A vs. Antique / Modern Faceted Cushions

[FieryBrilliance]

I've been going back and forth for a while now trying to figure out whether or not I want to try and get a square H&A or Cushion cut modern or antique faceted stone for my lady. She likes the look of the chunky modern faceting in a cushion, but I want optimal light performance and something that shines up whiter than snow. I'm considering the Brellia Square H&A Cushion, but want to know how different the performance will be. The girlfriend doesn't really like the H&A look when it's magnified to high hell on the computer, but on her finger, will she really notice THAT big of a difference and is it not always best to go with what's brightest & most sparkly?

I have pretty much narrowed my search to James Allen & Good Old Gold, as they seem to have quite a large inventory of Cushion's and I really do like that Jon at GOG invests so much time in educating customers. To me, that shows how passionate he is about it and establishes a bit more credibility in my eyes. I've heard GOG is a bit more expensive though, is that true?

Last question: I'm going to be putting the stone in a rose gold halo and was wondering if that means I can get away with a lower color grade. Does the rose gold make a whiter stone look less so?

Thanks!

 

[JulieN]

GOG makes these amazing videos that are on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIdKlGc5QtU

You can have great optics in a chunky cushion.

Most of the time, arrows aren't visible.

You can get away with a lower color in the halo.

 

[stargurl78]

I would contact GOG, Engagement Rings Direct, Perry at Leon Mege, and James Allen. Let them know what you are looking for and see if they can suggest some stones for you. I think you can definitely find a chunky stone with great optics.

I do think GOG's prices are higher but some people think its worth it for the additional information and level of service you receive.

Good luck!

 

[mandasand]

Rose Gold Halo = August Vintage Cushion

If she likes antique style, get her what she likes. ALL of GOG's signature stones perform well, so that should not be an issue. What is your budget and what carat weight are you hoping to get?

Here is another video...yummy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTDhFHg49E&feature=share&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA

 

[chrono]

To me, having owned both a square H&A (Jubilee) and chunky cushion (AVC), both have very different looks. You will not see the pronounced arrow most of the time but the type of sparkle is very different. The chunky cushion will have bigger flashes but less often than the square H&A.

 

[FieryBrilliance]

Rose Gold Halo = August Vintage Cushion

If she likes antique style, get her what she likes. ALL of GOG's signature stones perform well, so that should not be an issue. What is your budget and what carat weight are you hoping to get?

Here is another video...yummy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTDhFHg49E&feature=share&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA

Yeah - i know she wants a cushion, so now it's just determining modern faceted vs. AVC. At first, I didn't like the AVC because I presumed that the scintillation was so much slower than modern faceted, but the more I look at them, the more I kind of think they are funky. My girlfriend also loves antique jewelry, so that's another point in favor of the AVC. I just worry it won't sparkle as much.

Budget is $15k all-in, if possible, though I have a bit of flexibility there. I'd like 1.5-2.0 range for the stone. Her finger is about a 5.5 and I'll be putting it in a Halo, so I don't want it to be too big, but do want it to be sizable enough to get good coverage on her finger.

I'm replying in-line to you, but the post above says "rose gold halo = august vintage cushion" - why?

The video you include below is definitely gorgeous. That's a stunning ring.

 

[pandabee]

Rose gold just lends itself very well to antique pieces...it has that warmth in color and feels more "antique" than a white gold or platinum cushion halo, IMHO. I believe that is what mandasand was trying to convey

 

[ariel144]

This 2.35 GIA J VS2 is really really nice cushion brilliant. $15k. ...set in a ring. 8.5 x 7.7 it is slightly elongated and faces up very white. This ebay seller has a good reputation with PSrs. This is the largest stone for your budget.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170957671779?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

There is a 2.06c I SI2 on JA for under $12k. 7.8x 7.8
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1540696.asp

So if she likes the more square cushion the 2.06 is nice too. Both are cushion brilliants and so are a more "modern" cushion but still larger faceting...the depth and tables are great on both of these. Good luck...hope this helps.

If it were my finger I would get the 2.35....LOL! I like the slightly elongated ones set E/W... very classy.

Here's an OMB (O/P)set E/W in rose gold...a favorite ring of many here and about the same size as the 2.35 J above:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/its-here-its-here-my-2-30-ct-omb-antique-cushion-upgrade.158760/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/its-here-its-here-my-2-30-ct-omb-antique-cushion-upgrade.158760/[/URL]

J's can be very white: love this one in a halo...her story is on page 3:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/[/URL]

 

[ariel144]

Ok, so here is a wonderful cushion at a fantastic price...faces up very white for a K....below you will find the thread with the ASET and gemologist's comments on this stone. 1.66c K IF It faces up very large like a 2c cushion....for UNDER $7k...you can put $8,000 into a new home and she will still have a wonderful diamond in her engagement ring if you like this lovely cushion.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-IF-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1471593.asp

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-what-do-you-think-of-this-antique-cut-cushion.174602/page-3']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-what-do-you-think-of-this-antique-cut-cushion.174602/page-3[/URL]

Here is what the gemologist said

"I'm happy to tell you that this diamond is exceptionally bright and has great fire, brilliance, and scintillation. It has a rather round outline and a higher "K" color. This is a gorgeous cushion cut that will give you a fantastic sparkle and look beautiful mounted in any setting. I recommend it highly for your purchase and believe you'll be very happy with it when you see it for yourself. "

Shape: Cushion
Carat Weight: 1.66
Cut: Good
Color: K
Clarity: IF
Certificate: GIA
Depth: 66.2%
Table: 58.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle:
Culet: Small
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.26*7.05*4.67
Ratio: 1.03



Here's another cushion brilliant on JA for more than 2x the price...but it is an F color.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1541919.asp

 

[FieryBrilliance]

This 2.35 GIA J VS2 is really really nice cushion brilliant. $15k. ...set in a ring. 8.5 x 7.7 it is slightly elongated and faces up very white. This ebay seller has a good reputation with PSrs. This is the largest stone for your budget.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170957671779?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

There is a 2.06c I SI2 on JA for under $12k. 7.8x 7.8
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1540696.asp

So if she likes the more square cushion the 2.06 is nice too. Both are cushion brilliants and so are a more "modern" cushion but still larger faceting...the depth and tables are great on both of these. Good luck...hope this helps.

If it were my finger I would get the 2.35....LOL! I like the slightly elongated ones set E/W... very classy.

Here's an OMB (O/P)set E/W in rose gold...a favorite ring of many here and about the same size as the 2.35 J above:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/its-here-its-here-my-2-30-ct-omb-antique-cushion-upgrade.158760/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/its-here-its-here-my-2-30-ct-omb-antique-cushion-upgrade.158760/[/URL]

J's can be very white: love this one in a halo...her story is on page 3:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/[/URL]

Thanks Ariel! All of these suggestions are lovely. For some reason, I can't seem to get myself into the mindset whereby I feel comfortable buying any color higher than a G or H - is that silly of me? Especially considering it'll be set in a rose gold halo (albeit platinum band?) Obviously a 2Ct stone for
As for the ebay purchase, I don't know how I feel about buying on there for something so expensive. I realize the vendor has a stellar reputation w/ 4000+ 99% approves, but wouldn't it be better to go through GOG, BGD, ERD, or the like?

Thanks again for your help, though, greatly appreciated!

 

[JulieN]

Just wanted to point out that different colors are not different qualities of diamond.

 

[FieryBrilliance]

Just wanted to point out that different colors are not different qualities of diamond.

What do you mean, JulieN? Are various colors of stone not considered less desirable? Everything I've read suggest that DEF color is not really "worth" the incremental pricetag; GHI is perfectly in the middle ground; and anything thereafter is considered less desirable if you're looking for a stone that shines up really white.

Given the different prices associated w/ varying color of stones, I would think that's an indication of quality, no?

 

[JulieN]

Price is not an indicator of quality. Look at Patron tequila or Grey Goose vodka: brands with no history, quality not in relation to its price, created by marketing people to position the product as a luxury item.

There's a lot of marketing in diamonds, too. Please do not think you are buying something rare.

If you don't want it to have any noticeable tint, that's great. Many people enjoy diamonds that are not colored D-H.

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

[FieryBrilliance]

Price is not an indicator of quality. Look at Patron tequila or Grey Goose vodka: brands with no history, quality not in relation to its price, created by marketing people to position the product as a luxury item.

There's a lot of marketing in diamonds, too. Please do not think you are buying something rare.

If you don't want it to have any noticeable tint, that's great. Many people enjoy diamonds that are not colored D-H.

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Very good point and I like the analogy b/w Patron or Grey Goose. Here's the question I have: if you did a blind taste test of padron or grey goose compared to other tequila/vodkas, could you tell the differences b/w them and others? What if you did a not blind (obviously) side-by-side comparison b/w an F a G and an I - would there be a noticeable difference between them? If so, how noticeable? Is it only visible if they are next to one another?

Forgive my ignorance on the topic and thanks for your help understanding it! Obviously, if I can get away with getting something beautiful at a cheaper price, i'm happy to do so I'd just like to be sure it's not a yellow tint.

Thanks

 

[mandasand]

Rose gold just lends itself very well to antique pieces...it has that warmth in color and feels more "antique" than a white gold or platinum cushion halo, IMHO. I believe that is what mandasand was trying to convey

Yep...that's correct. If your gf likes the antique style cushion cut, get her an AVC. The Gabriel halo in rose gold suits the diamond very well. But, from another thread, it sounds like you want to do a custom setting. You could still get the stone from GOG and then have ERD make a split-shank halo in rose gold. I'm sure it would be beautiful.

 

[mandasand]

I would not go with a K unless the diamond had superior optics and light performance. Setting it in rose gold will slightly enhance warmer color diamonds, but that may not be what you like. I don't think a K would look "yellow." But, it will have a tint. You'd be surprised how excellent-cut stones face up white. But, you really have to work with a vendor that specializes in ideal cut cushions. That's just my opinion.